On Apping to eachdraidh...

[rangerandking]

A new journey suits me, Lady. The decisions you have to make are imperative to my placement within this "fairy realm". Judge my attributes fairly and I shall gladly lend my sword to the most worthy cause.

{He smiles and bows his head, touching the hilt of the sword sheathed at his side.}

Comments

[silvergift]

[Celebrían eyes him quietly, a half smile on her face. She may know little of her daughters fate in the Drabwurld but here, she knows plenty. Plenty she's been told and some she learned on her own. He's... not quite what she imagined for Arwen when her daughter had been young but then, neither had she really thought about it much. She knew she'd always be happy for her children no matter who they chose. Mortal or immortal.]

Regardless of your placement, you will be welcomed. And we will be glad to have you.

[rangerandking]

{At the sight of her, he bows a little lower before raising his gaze. Arwen's beauty comes partially from her mother, so it doesn't take him long to understand - fully - who approaches him. Celebrian.}

I thank you for your kind words. I shall endeavor to not make you regret them.

[bythewaves]

There are many who will be glad of your presence, Elessar.

[kingsdaughter]

[Okay actual human from her world this is really cool, for once. She never thought she would tire of elves, but she has. And she was already tired of dwarves by the time she entered the Drabwurld. She's just...not sure about this funky-looking guy offering to fight for a "worthy cause." Does that mean he's a sellsword?]

It's not...really very worthy. Leastways far as I can tell.

[verybigpheasants]

Worthy's a strong word. Might wanna go for something like "least selfish."

Ah. Not that that helps your chances much.

[rangerandking]

Least selfish, hm? {Less than promising.} I have grown accustomed to meagre odds.

[rangerandking]

{A human girl - and one that speaks one of the dialects of Middle Earth. Aragorn smiles and tips his head forward in greeting.}

Is it elusive or nonexistent in your eyes?

[rangerandking]

Yourself included, my lord?

[kingsdaughter]

[Westron for now, since she really has no idea where he comes from or if he speaks the tongue of the northmen of Dale. She's never seen a man so weathered, and she has known all kinds. Woodsmen, Lake-men, Southrons and Easterlings, many far-traveled and sun-beaten, but this man is different. It's sort of like what they say about bowmen, that to train a good one you have to start with his grandfather. To get a traveler that looks like Aragorn, you have to start with his grandfather, too.

She presses her lips together briefly.]

Soon as someone with power points at someone and says they're your enemy, you've got trouble. And once you've got trouble, people start doing awful things and having real reasons to go to war and then you have no need to do anything but sit back and watch everyone do exactly what you wanted. You never have to lift another finger.

[Not that this is a trick that the Master has used or anything.]

[bythewaves]

I will not know you there, more the pity. But I would not mind meeting you in truth, I think, rather than watching your tale from afar.

[rangerandking]

There are many tales to tell. I look to begin yet another when I join you. Until then, lend Legolas your good company.

[rangerandking]

You have experience with this. {And that saddens him. She is only a child - and certainly not one that has had a taste of the wilderness. He wishes he could be surprised, but he knows better. Even the most innocent of Men experience the horrors of war thanks to the One Ring and Mordor.} I will lend you what aid I can to forge a safer world.

{He has never considered glory for himself. His eyes are always set on others.}

Surely Orcs are harsher foes when compared to Fairies?

[kingsdaughter]

[That, the safer world, that's what she wants, however she can get it. She's been a mother to her siblings since she was six. She doesn't know what else to do.]

They are. But orcs are evil. When it's regular folk fighting regular folk, it's a lot worse.

[And she's seen orcs. But she also saw Fili fling himself bodily at an orc to protect her with no weapon to hand.]

Maybe it's...if your enemy is evil, then you fight him because you're good. But if your enemy is just like you, what does that make us all?

[She's not naive. She's not really even being philosophical. She's scared. She's scared that humanity could be so much worse than she already thought it was.]

[rangerandking]

Human. {It's a simple answer, but it's the truth. Men wage battles for good reasons and ill ones. Peace can only be achieved if everyone seeks it. Otherwise...} I have fought many battles - and not only against Orcs. Those in power are charged with protecting their people and seeing that no harm comes to them. When war is waged, lives will inevitably be lost.

Good Kings seek peace; not war. {The line between good and evil should never be blurred.} Where did you call home, child?

[kingsdaughter]

Lake-town. [More of an internationally known name than Esgaroth, most of the time. More of a description than a name, even, which is why it's easier to remember. Nobody local even knows what the word Esgaroth means.] Isn't the point of war that you are seeking peace? Just...a better peace than the one you had.

[If it sounds like a quote, it's because she's been reading books on foreign relations and diplomacy since she found out she's being sent on a diplomatic mission and she's paraphrasing something she read.]

[rangerandking]

Middle Earth? {He leans against a wall and sets about lighting a pipe.} War brings peace at a terrible price. It isn't a choice a King would - or should - make without seeking other possibilities.

{Death in battle isn't valorous. Aragorn has had to leave many friends behind, knowing that he will never get the chance to properly bury them.}

[kingsdaughter]

It sounds like you could be Seelie. [She has less and less cause to draw lines there; it's almost more of a summary of someone's system of values than anything else. But Aragorn being Seelie would make him easier to get to, so.]

And Lake-town in Middle-earth. I never had to be specific like that before.

[rangerandking]

Perhaps. {He inhales and blows out a smoke ring.} We are from the same world, then.

{It explains the familiarity.}

I am Aragorn.

[kingsdaughter]

[Something seems familiar about the name, or a part of the name, but Sigrid is one of the northmen, not one of the descendants of Númenor, and all she has heard have been whispers of rumors of mighty kings of old and the empty throne in the South.]

I'm Sigrid.

[rangerandking]

Well met, Sigrid. {He has become more comfortable with his lineage, but it isn't important that she knows.} Are there Kings or Queens in this Fairy realm?

[kingsdaughter]

Far too many. [A fleeting smile.] But the ones we're supposed to follow are Solais and Ridire if we're Seelie, and Morla and...oh, wossname of the Unseelie. But the Elvenking was there for a while, and the Lady of the Golden Wood is still here with her daughter. And lots of other kings and people who say they're kings. I think we've got half-a-dozen who claim to be King of Westeros all at the same time.

[By half a dozen, she means two. There are two simultaneous claimants to the throne of Westeros right now. And then there's her, a future princess according to a number from her own world. So meaningful.]

[bythewaves]

There are few who would count my company good, but I will do my best to guard him til you can come, Elessar. He does well for himself, however, and little needs the assistance!

AAAAAAAAAAAH

[orcsurfing]

[ Ah, he wishes he could cry and laugh both, for there's a tide swelling within him of emotions various and vastly different from each other. He does not and would never wish this fate on Aragorn, on one hand, but on the other hand having him by his side once more, seeing his face once more? That is a treasure he would never turn his back on should it happen.

Much like in the case of Gimli, in truth.

Be still his fragile elven heart!! ]

Never would I wish more war upon you, but should you come, my friend, then you will be welcome with arms open and a place with me and mine.

[utterlyspent]

It is a long journey you are contemplating, my love. And so we will be worlds apart after all.

[ There is a certain amount of dark humor to be found in that. ]

[silvergift]

[She can't help but laugh softly. Others bowing to her, what a concept. She'd never really thought herself quite so impressive as to deserve anything more than the polite ones she'd been given as the Lady of Imladris. Never bows so formal or low.]

I know that you will not. I do not believe you could.